Genesis 36:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the account of Chronicles, it is indicated that Gadad is referenced (1 Chronicles 1:50). There are also notable variations in how several other names in this list are pronounced.

To what period should we assign the rule of the Idumean monarchs that are referenced? Their other names do not appear in Scripture, providing critics with little basis for their theories. The count of Idumean kings listed by the householder aligns naturally with the era of Moses; it is plausible that eight kings reigned over a span of 100 to 150 years. The specific mention of the final Idumean king, Gadar, along with the names of his wife and her lineage, without even a reference to his death, understandably draws attention. It seems reasonable to surmise that this last king was more familiar to Moses than the others, prompting a more detailed account of his family. Could he not have been a contemporary of Moses, who denied the latter's request to traverse his land (Num. 20: 14-22)? It is indeed possible that he survived Moses.